The 290-foot long Landscape Arch is believed to be the longest natural rock span in the world. The impressive sandstone arch can be reached via a level two-mile out and back hike in the Devils Garden region of Arches Nation Park. The trek can be expanded to 2.5-miles round trip by visiting two other arches along the way, or extended beyond Landscape Arch to visit several more arches deeper in Devils Garden.

Tunnel Arch

To reach Landscape Arch, begin at Devils Garden Trailhead at the very north end of Park Avenue. The trail leaves the parking lot and passes between tall sandstone fins to enter an arch-filled wonderland or rocks. The wide gravel trail is quite level, ascending just 50 feet over the first 0.3 miles, where it comes to a junction with the spur trail to Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch. To explore these fine arches, make a right and take the equally wide trail down to another split. A short track to the right heads closer to Tunnel Arch, perched on the sandstone wall ahead. The left fork continues for 0.2 miles to the ground-level Pine Tree Arch. You can actually stand directly beneath Pine Tree Arch, making it a fun destination. Visiting these two arches adds half a mile to the total distance of the hike.

The trail through Devils Garden

When you finish with the two appetizer arches, continue up the main trail through a landscape of impressive sandstone formations. The longest arch in the world is 3/4 of a mile past the junction. However, the trail turns from gravel to sand 0.2 miles before the arch. Follow the track to the left toward the long thin ribbon of rock running along the side of a sandstone wall.

Landscape Arch

The mirage-like Landscape Arch looks entirely under-supported. The arch is so long and so thin, it’s hard to believe it can stand. The arch’s existence would throw the entire notion of gravity into question, were it not for three pieces of the arch that have broken off in the last two decades.

A trail that once ran below the arch was closed after a 180-ton block fell from Landscape Arch in 1991. A wooden fence keeps visitors a safe distance from the fragile arch, while still offering impressive views. Boulders from the fallen sections can be seen covering the old trail below the arch.

Landscape Arch

Once your eyes come to accept that this improbable arch is actually standing, you are free to hike back the way you came. If you are eager for more, six other arches are farther up the trails beyond Landscape Arch. Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Wall Arch, Private Arch, Dar Angel Arch, and Double O Arch can be reached via a combination of primitive and maintained trails. Seeing them all will add about five miles to this hike.

To get to the trailhead: From the visitor center, drive 18 miles north up Park Avenue. The road ends at Devils Garden. Parking for the trailhead is just past the campground.

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